97806 Italian Popular Culture

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.

UTS: International Studies: International Studies and Languages
Credit points: 8 cp
Result type: Grade and marks

Requisite(s): 97805 Italy and Migration OR 97804 Italian Language and Culture 4 OR 97807 Italophone Literature(s) OR 97808 Italian Language and the Arts

Description

This subject provides students who have intermediate to advanced proficiency in Italian with an introduction to Italian popular culture. It corresponds to Level B1+ of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CERF). Students are guided to understand, interpret, and discuss, in written and oral form, cultural productions in Italian and Italophone contexts. This subject considers a variety of genres, sources, and media (including pop music and comics). Students take an active part in collaborative learning activities to practise and consolidate their language skills.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

a.	Comprehend, reflect upon and analyse intermediate texts in spoken and written Italian.
b.	Produce intermediate-advanced texts in spoken and written Italian.
c.	Demonstrate intercultural awareness across two or more cultural contexts.

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject engages with the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs), which are tailored to the Graduate Attributes set for all graduates of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (INT = International Studies CILOs):

Evaluate critically theoretical and specialised knowledge of contemporary societies, cultures and workplaces. (INT.2.1)
Understand and engage with cultural diversities in Australia and/or internationally. (INT.3.1)
Communicate effectively and appropriately in an additional language for everyday and professional purposes. (INT.3.2)

Teaching and learning strategies

Italian Popular Culture proposes an innovative blended, practice-based and research-inspired learning experience. Primary and secondary sources are analysed through a communicative and reflective approach, aimed at stimulating progressive and continuous learning, as well as reflecting on the use of language in context. The analysis of sources is supported by a series of supplementary authentic intermedial materials (such as podcasts, images, videos) and scaffolded through the discussion of these materials in real-life scenarios and situations (debates, role-plays, interviews). The subject’s structure favours the interaction of physical and virtual learning environments as well as the construction of a nuanced and personalised learning experience.

In addition to the in-class work, students are asked to complete a series of online activities, which strengthen their independent learning skills and facilitate a customised learning experience. The approximate time commitment expected from students is 12 hours per week, including class time.

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Reflective Learning Portfolio

Objective(s):

a, b and c

Weight:

35%

Criteria linkages:

Criteria	Weight (%)	SLOs	CILOs
Depth of critical reflection on the topic	30	a	INT.3.1
Coherence of organisation, clarity of expression	25	b	INT.3.2
Variety, range and accuracy of vocabulary and structures	20	b	INT.3.2
Reflection on the use of language	25	a, c	INT.3.2

SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 2: Dialogue and discussion

Objective(s):

a and b

Weight:

30%

Criteria linkages:

Criteria	Weight (%)	SLOs	CILOs
Quality of relevant research and analysis of the topic	30	a	INT.2.1
Coherence of organisation, clarity of expression	25	b	INT.3.2
Variety, range and accuracy of vocabulary and structures	20	b	INT.3.2
Pronunciation	15	b	INT.3.2
Fluency	10	b	INT.3.2

SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 3: Essay

Objective(s):

a, b and c

Weight:

35%

Criteria linkages:

Criteria	Weight (%)	SLOs	CILOs
Depth and effectiveness of analysis relevant to the topic	30	c	INT.2.1
Coherence of organisation, clarity of expression	30	b	INT.3.2
Variety, range and accuracy of vocabulary and structures	20	b	INT.3.2
Relevance of an engagement with scholarly literature	20	a	INT.2.1

SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Minimum requirements

Attendance at tutorials is essential in this subject. Classes are based on a collaborative approach that involves essential work-shopping and interchange of ideas with other students and the tutor. A roll will be taken at each class. If you are late to class and not present when the roll is taken, it is your responsibility to tell your tutor at the end of that class so that your attendance can be recorded. Please note that if you are more than 30 minutes late, you will be noted as absent. Students who miss more than 85% of their classes will be refused their final assessment, i.e. Assessment Task 3: Essay (see Rule 3.8). In order to pass this subject, students must earn an overall total of 50 marks or more.

Recommended texts

Grammar books:

Nocchi, S. 2015. New Italian Grammar in Practice: Exercises, Tests, Games. Firenze: Alma Edizioni.
De Rome, D. 2015. Soluzioni: A Practical Grammar of Contemporary Italian. London: Routledge.

Dictionaries:

Cannella M., Lazzarini B. (eds). 2016. Lo Zingarelli 2017. Vocabolario della lingua italiana. Bologna: Zanichelli.
WordReference.com

Other resources

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES

A considerable amount of class time is devoted to practicing using the language in a variety of real or simulated situations using authentic materials wherever possible. In order to maintain and consolidate those skills, students need to practice the language regularly with Italian-speaking friends or colleagues.

Students are also encouraged to engage with aspects of Italian language and culture through radio and television programs (SBS and RETE ITALIA). SBS Television transmits the Italian daily news on SBS1 at 7.35 and on SBS2 at 12.40; SBS Radio 97.7 FM: Monday-Sunday 8-10 am; RETE ITALIA Radio: 1539 AM Monday-Sunday 24 hours. The Italian Institute of Culture (IIC) organises conferences and concerts as well as sponsoring cultural events in Sydney. The Institute has a library including an extensive collection, which is accessible to members. For information on membership and activities contact the Institute (IIC, Level 4, 125 York St, Sydney). In the month of October Palace Cinemas hosts the Lavazza Italian Film Festival showing a number of contemporary and some classic Italian movies subtitled in English.

UTS Library

The UTS library holds a variety of Italian Language and Culture-related resources available for loan or in Closed Reserve. Students can access these from the catalogue using, for instance, 'Italian language' as the keywords. The course number can also be used to identify resources in Closed Reserve. At the beginning of the semester the lecturer will provide a list of relevant materials for independent learning available in the library or online and throughout the semester guidance will be offered in the selection and use of such materials, such as movies, easy readers and audio books for different levels. If you wish to access library resources from outside of UTS, you should read the information available at: https://www.lib.uts.edu.au/help/support-students/regional-remote-students. You will need a username and password to access library resources (such as databases etc.) from outside of UTS. This will be the username and password of your UTS email account. If you haven't yet activated your UTS email account, please go to https://email.itd.uts.edu.au/email/. If you have trouble activating your UTS email account, please visit one of the IT Support Centre counters at UTS, ring the ITD helpdesk on 9514 2222, or email them at itsc@uts.edu.au.

Instructions on how to set up your computer to access the library's resources can be found at: https://www.lib.uts.edu.au/help/support-students/students-campus. The library web site also offers some online tutorials to help you to develop your Information skills: https://www.lib.uts.edu.au/guides. Details of library locations and hours are available on the Library's home page: https://www.lib.uts.edu.au/.

Canvas

All students who have been enrolled in a subject at UTS have access to Canvas (https://canvas.uts.edu.au/). However, to gain this access you will need to activate your UTS email account. Once you have an activated UTS email account, you can log in to Canvas by entering your Username and Password. Your username is your student ID (i.e. the 8-digit number on your student card). Your password is the same as your UTS email password. Finally, click the 'Login' button. Note: Not all UTS subjects make use of Canvas, and hence your list of subjects in Canvas should not be used as an indicator of your true UTS enrolment. For more information about accessing and using Canvas, go to the following site: https://www.uts.edu.au/current-students/managing-your-course/using-uts-systems/software-available-students/canvas.

ASSIGNMENT WRITING, ORAL PRESENTATION, ACADEMIC ENGLISH
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